Abstract: An optical method for identifying locations of objects in a plane, including serially projecting light beams along a detection area, from a plurality of locations along an edge of the detection area, whereby a reflective object inserted into the detection area reflects the projected light beams, directing the reflections of the projected light beams arriving at the edge of the detection area onto a plurality of light detectors, in a manner that maximizes amounts of reflected light arriving at the detectors when the light arrives at a particular angle in relation to the edge, and calculating two-dimensional coordinates of the inserted object in the detection area based on the particular angle and the outputs of the detectors.

Abstract: A sensor for a control panel, including a housing along an edge of the panel, light emitters projecting light along an in-air detection plane over the panel and detectors detecting reflections of the projected light, reflected by an object in the detection plane, lenses oriented such that each detector receives maximum light intensity when light enters a corresponding lens at a particular angle, whereby for each emitter-detector pair, when the object is located at a specific position in the detection plane, light emitted by the emitter of that pair is reflected by the object back through one of the lenses at the particular angle to the detector of that pair, the specific position being associated with that emitter-detector pair, and a processor configured to determine panel locations, map each location to a position in the detection plane associated with an emitter-detector pair, mapping the panel to the detection plane.

Abstract: A sensor determining coordinates of a proximal object, including a one-dimensional array of alternating light emitters and detectors, including a plurality of light emitters projecting light along a detection plane, and a plurality of light detectors detecting reflections of the projected light, by a reflective object in the detection plane, and a plurality of lenses mounted and oriented relative to the emitters and the detectors such that the light detectors receive maximum intensity when light enters a corresponding lens at a first particular angle, whereby for each emitter-detector pair, light emitted by the emitter of that pair passes through one of the lenses and is reflected by the object back through one of the lenses to the detector of that pair when the object is located at one of a set of positions in the detection plane, that position being associated with that emitter-detector pair.

Abstract: A modular proximity sensor including a plurality of sensor modules, each sensor module including a housing, lenses, light detectors, each detector positioned along the image plane of a respective lens so as to receive maximum light intensity when light enters the lens at a particular angle, light emitters, each emitter positioned in relation to a respective lens so as to project light into a detection zone, an activating unit synchronously co-activating each emitter with at least one of the detectors, and a calculating unit receiving detector outputs corresponding to amounts of projected light reflected by an object in the detection zone, and calculating a two-dimensional location of the object in the detection zone based on the detector outputs and the particular angle, wherein neighboring sensor modules monitor different detection zones, and a processor receiving outputs from each sensor module and mapping the object location in multiple detection zones over time.

Abstract: A sensor including multiple sensor modules and a processor, each sensor module including lenses, light detectors, each detector positioned along the image plane of a lens so as to receive maximum light intensity when light enters the lens at a particular angle, light emitters, each emitter being positioned in relation to a lens so as to project light into a detection zone, an activating unit synchronously co-activating each emitter with at least one of the detectors, and a calculating unit receiving outputs from the detectors corresponding to amounts of projected light reflected by an object in the detection zone to the detectors, and calculating a two-dimensional location of the object in the detection zone based on the detector outputs and the particular angle, wherein neighboring modules monitor different detection zones, and the processor receiving outputs from the sensor modules and mapping the object location in multiple detection zones over time.

Abstract: A proximity sensor, including a housing, an array of lenses mounted in the housing, an array of alternating light emitters and light detectors mounted in the housing, each detector being positioned along the image plane of a respective one of the lenses so as to receive maximum light intensity when light enters the lens at a particular angle, an activating unit mounted in the housing and connected to the emitters and detectors, synchronously co-activating each emitter with at least one of the detectors, each activated emitter projecting light out of the housing along a detection plane, and a processor receiving outputs from the detectors corresponding to amounts of projected light reflected by an object in the detection plane to the detectors, and calculating a two-dimensional location of the object in the detection plane based on the detector outputs and the particular angle.

Abstract: A set of data chunks stored in a first data storage system is accessed. The set of data chunks includes original data chunks and replicated data chunks respectively corresponding to the original data chunks. A given original data chunk and the corresponding replicated data chunk are stored in separate storage nodes of the first data storage system. For each of at least a subset of storage nodes of the first data storage system, unique ones of the original data chunks and the replicated data chunks stored on the storage node are aggregated to form a data object. The data objects thereby formed collectively represent a given data volume. Each of the data objects is stored in separate storage nodes of a second data storage system.

Abstract: A user interface method for an automated door lock, including providing a sensor operable to identify two-dimensional locations of an object within a detection plane that extends outward from a door, providing an unlocker operative to automatically unlock the door, identifying, by a processor coupled with the sensor and the unlocker, a linear movement of the object within the detection plane, in a first direction of motion, further identifying, by the processor, a linear movement of the object within the detection plane, in a second direction of motion substantially orthogonal to the first direction of motion, and activating, by the processor, the unlocker in response to the identifying and the further identifying.

Abstract: A proximity sensor, including a housing, an array of lenses mounted in the housing, an array of alternating light emitters and light detectors mounted in the housing, each detector being positioned along the image plane of a respective one of the lenses so as to receive maximum light intensity when light enters the lens at a particular angle, an activating unit mounted in the housing and connected to the emitters and detectors, synchronously co-activating each emitter with at least one of the detectors, each activated emitter projecting light out of the housing along a detection plane, and a processor receiving outputs from the detectors corresponding to amounts of projected light reflected by an object in the detection plane to the detectors, and calculating a two-dimensional location of the object in the detection plane based on the detector outputs and the particular angle.

Abstract: A system including two handheld electronic devices, each device including a housing, a communicator mounted in the housing continuously receiving images from an internet server, a display mounted in the housing, and a sensor mounted in the housing and connected to the communicator, configured to detect sizes of objects in an adjacent detection zone, and including an analyzer recognizing the other handheld electronic device when the sensor detects that an object in the adjacent detection zone is as long as an edge of the housing, wherein the server receives outputs from the analyzer and partitions each of the images into two half-images, and continuously transmits one of each half-image to the handheld electronic device and the other of each half-image to the other handheld device, such that each full image spans the two device displays.

Abstract: A user interface method for an automated door lock, including providing a sensor operable to identify two-dimensional locations of an object within a detection plane that extends outward from a door, providing an unlocker operative to automatically unlock the door, identifying, by a processor coupled with the sensor and the unlocker, a linear movement of the object within the detection plane, in a first direction of motion, further identifying, by the processor, a linear movement of the object within the detection plane, in a second direction of motion substantially orthogonal to the first direction of motion, and activating, by the processor, the unlocker in response to the identifying and the further identifying.

Abstract: A door handle including light emitters for emitting light out of the handle, light detectors, lenses oriented relative to the emitters and detectors such that for each emitter-detector pair, when a reflective object is located at a target position near the handle, corresponding to that emitter-detector pair, then the light emitted by that emitter passes through one of the lenses and is reflected by the object back through one of the lenses to that detector, a keyless lock that, when activated, scans for a digital key via wireless communication, and a processor operable to synchronously activate emitter-detector pairs, to recognize from the amounts of light received by the activated detectors, and from the target positions corresponding to the activated emitter-detector pairs, that the object is approaching the handle and performing a sweep gesture and, in response thereto, to activate the keyless lock.

Abstract: A proximity sensor including a housing, a plurality of light pulse emitters for projecting light out of the housing along a detection plane, a plurality of primary light detectors for detecting reflections of the light projected by the emitters, by a reflective object in the detection plane, a plurality of primary lenses oriented relative to the emitters and primary detectors in such a manner that for each emitter-detector pair, light emitted by the emitter of that pair passes through one of the primary lenses and is reflected by the object back through one of the primary lenses to the detector of that pair when the object is located at a position, from among a primary set of positions in the detection plane, that position being associated with that emitter-detector pair, and a processor for co-activating emitter-detector pairs, and configured to calculate a location of the object in the detection plane.

Abstract: A proximity sensor including a housing, a plurality of light pulse emitters for projecting light out of the housing along a detection plane, a plurality of primary light detectors for detecting reflections of the light projected by the emitters, by a reflective object in the detection plane, a plurality of primary lenses oriented relative to the emitters and primary detectors in such a manner that for each emitter-detector pair, light emitted by the emitter of that pair passes through one of the primary lenses and is reflected by the object back through one of the primary lenses to the detector of that pair when the object is located at a position, from among a primary set of positions in the detection plane, that position being associated with that emitter-detector pair, and a processor for co-activating emitter-detector pairs, and configured to calculate a location of the object in the detection plane.

Abstract: A door handle including light emitters for emitting light out of the handle, light detectors, lenses oriented relative to the emitters and detectors such that for each emitter-detector pair, when a reflective object is located at a target position near the handle, corresponding to that emitter-detector pair, then the light emitted by that emitter passes through one of the lenses and is reflected by the object back through one of the lenses to that detector, a keyless lock that, when activated, scans for a digital key via wireless communication, and a processor operable to synchronously activate emitter-detector pairs, to recognize from the amounts of light received by the activated detectors, and from the target positions corresponding to the activated emitter-detector pairs, that the object is approaching the handle and performing a sweep gesture and, in response thereto, to activate the keyless lock.

Abstract: A proximity sensor including a housing, a plurality of light pulse emitters for projecting light out of the housing along a detection plane, a plurality of primary light detectors for detecting reflections of the light projected by the emitters, by a reflective object in the detection plane, a plurality of primary lenses oriented relative to the emitters and primary detectors in such a manner that for each emitter-detector pair, light emitted by the emitter of that pair passes through one of the primary lenses and is reflected by the object back through one of the primary lenses to the detector of that pair when the object is located at a position, from among a primary set of positions in the detection plane, that position being associated with that emitter-detector pair, and a processor for co-activating emitter-detector pairs, and configured to calculate a location of the object in the detection plane.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for organizing a plurality of versions of a file in a file system. The plurality of versions of the file are stored in a data structure having a hierarchical organization that reflects relationships among the plurality of versions. Each version of the plurality of versions is assigned a name that identifies its position in the hierarchical organization. The hierarchical organization of the data structure and the descriptive naming convention used for the plurality of versions in the data structure facilitates deleting a version while retaining other versions derived from the version following the deletion of the version, and enables a staged initialization of the data structure upon system start-up.

Abstract: Described are techniques for correcting at least some inconsistencies in a file system accessed by at least one client, while maintaining the file system online. A file system checking utility is executed on the file system to detect and create corrections for inconsistencies in the file system. The file system is updated to include at least some corrections. Also described is a computer system comprising a file system accessed by a client. A file system checking utility is executed on the file system to detect at least some inconsistencies in the file system, and to create a corrected version of the file system that includes corrections to correct for at least some of the detected inconsistencies. A report is created. The file system is not updated with the corrected version unless the proposed corrections are approved. The file system checking utility may be periodically scheduled for execution.

Abstract: A file server architecture decouples logical storage from physical storage and provides proactive detection and containment of faults, errors, and corruptions in a file system, in order to enable in place (online) and non-intrusive recovery. The file system is built upon a thinly provisioned logical volume, and there are stored three copies of the metadata defining the logical volume in order to provide quick, deterministic, and reliable recovery from a faulted system. A first copy of the metadata is distributed among all of the slices of physical storage allocated to the logical volume. A second copy of the metadata is stored in a root slice of the logical volume. A third copy of the metadata is stored separate from the slices of physical storage allocated to the logical volume.

Abstract: An optical system having at least two waveguides that are deformable to provide adjustments to dispersion and path length.